Plasma Calcium and Phosphorus Levels in Chelonia mydas Juveniles Obtained from Three Feeding Areas on the Brazilian Coast

Plasma phosphorus levels in juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) decrease significantly with distance from coastal regions, suggesting these levels could serve as a reliable indicator of environmental quality in feeding sites along the Brazilian coast. The study, conducted between 2012 and 2014, analyzed plasma calcium and phosphorus concentrations in 123 turtles from three distinct feeding areas: Vitória Bay (ES), Abrolhos Marine National Park (BA), and Atol das Rocas Biological Reserve (RN). These sites exhibit varying degrees of anthropization. Findings indicate that phosphorus levels drop as the distance from coastal regions increases, highlighting the potential impact of human activities on marine ecosystems and turtle health. The research recommends further studies to correlate food component phosphorus levels with plasma concentrations to strengthen this environmental quality indicator.

Nóbrega, Y. C., Nossa, D. N., Menezes, P. Q. d., Silva, B. N. M., Dias, G. G., Alvarenga, F. P., Miguel, C., & Santos, M. R. d. D. (2022). PLASMA CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN Chelonia mydas JUVENILES OBTAINED FROM THREE FEEDING AREAS ON THE BRAZILIAN COAST. Science and Animal Health, 10, 63–73. https://doi.org/10.15210/sah.v10i1.22817